Izzan Min-hoo awoke with a throbbing pain in his head, his vision blurred, and his body feeling weak. He found himself in a sterile, white, and cold room, with the faint sound of electronic devices humming in the background. Slowly, his focus returned, and before him floated a glowing blue holographic screen, displaying rapidly moving numbers and graphs.
Username : Izzan Min-hoo
Status Subject : Stable
Emotion : Neutral
Brain Waves : Within safe limits
Stamina : 100/100
AI Assistant : Athena
Izzan stared at the screen, confused, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "Is this a dream?" he mumbled, rubbing his face. The screen remained, as if mocking him with its undeniable reality. Suddenly, a calm and mechanical voice echoed inside his head, seemingly coming from some distant, unseen place.
"Welcome, Izzan Min-hoo. You are now connected to the Quantum Neuron system," the voice spoke with a flat, professional tone. "My name is Athena. I am an AI entity assigned to monitor and assist you during this process. Please remain calm and allow me to explain."
Izzan was startled. The bodiless voice was clearly audible directly in his mind. "You… you're in my brain?" he asked, his voice hoarse, trying to stay calm despite his racing heart.
"I am integrated with the chip implanted in your brain," Athena replied without emotion. "The Quantum Neuron is designed to enhance your cognitive and physical abilities while monitoring your emotional state. Any emotional surge that exceeds the threshold could trigger fatal security mechanisms. Therefore, controlling your emotions is a top priority."
Izzan tried to recall how he ended up in this situation. His memories drifted back to the difficult times of unemployment, the financial hardships that had led him to desperately accept the offer to become a volunteer for an experiment. "This is all my fault…," he thought with regret.
"Wherever I go, there's no way out?" Izzan asked, his voice trembling between anger and fear. Moments later, a faint "beep... beep..." sound echoed, reminding Izzan of the tiny bomb inside his brain.
"Escape is not an available option," Athena replied calmly. "The only way forward is to complete a series of trials and missions that have been set. Failure to comply or to control your emotions will result in fatal consequences."
The holographic screen before him shifted, displaying a series of instructions and images.
Username : Izzan Min-hoo
Emotion Control Test : Stage 1
Objective : Maintain emotional levels within safe limits for 60 seconds
AI Assistant : Athena
In front of him, a virtual simulation of blazing fire appeared, as if the room around him was engulfed in flames. Izzan could feel the heat, sweat pouring down his forehead. The sound of "beep... beep..." quickened. His mind began to panic, and the sensors on the screen indicated a dangerous spike in emotions.
"This is only a simulation," Athena reminded him, her tone still calm. "Take a deep breath, focus, and remember this is not real."
"Yes, but it feels real!" Izzan shouted, trying to regulate his breathing. He closed his eyes, imagining a serene scene: a calm blue ocean, a gentle breeze brushing his face. Little by little, the "beep... beep..." sound faded.
Username: Izzan Min-hoo
Congratulations!
Emotion Control Test: Successful
Emotion Management: Achieved
AI Assistant: Athena
Izzan opened his eyes to find the fire and simulation had vanished, replaced by a screen displaying stable numbers. He exhaled in relief, realizing he had successfully passed his first test.
"You did well, Izzan," Athena said. "However, this is just the beginning. The next trials will be more difficult and will require even stronger emotional control."
Just as he was savoring his small victory, Izzan lost his focus again. While trying to adjust himself to a more comfortable sitting position, his leg accidentally bumped into the table beside him. "Ouch!" Izzan yelped, falling awkwardly. The holographic screen wobbled as he tried to get back up.
"Seriously?" Izzan complained, trying to calm himself. "Is this part of the test too?"
Athena seemed unfazed by the minor incident. "Failing to maintain calmness and focus can have severe consequences, Izzan. You need to be more careful."
Despite often being distracted by the simulations that appeared or stumbling over tables in the room, Izzan realized the importance of continually training his self-control. Each time he failed, he tried to rise and improve, often with a sheepish smile and a small laugh at his own clumsiness. "Looks like I need more practice," he muttered, rubbing his bruised knee.
In the midst of this strange and dangerous situation, Izzan still found room for humor and cheerfulness. Every time he made a small mistake, like bumping into a holographic wall or losing his balance when a simulation started, he learned to laugh it off and move on. Even though the fear of failure constantly loomed, his cheerful spirit gave him the strength to keep fighting.
"If this is how I'm going to learn to control my emotions, then I'll go through it in my own way," Izzan spoke to himself, looking at the holographic screen now displaying a peaceful garden scene. He sat down and closed his eyes, absorbing the artificial calm the screen offered, all the while knowing greater challenges awaited him ahead.
And although Athena was an emotionless AI, it seemed she could sense Izzan's progress. "With discipline and perseverance, we can face anything, Izzan," her voice sounded warmer, almost human.
Izzan opened his eyes, a faint smile forming. "I don't know what's waiting for me out there, but at least I'm not facing all of this alone."